Central Information Commission
File No.CIC/SM/A/2009/000699 dated 07-11-2008
Right to Information Act-2005-Under Section (19)
Dated: 17 March 2010
Name of the Appellant : Shri Raja Ranjit Kumar
S/o Shri Radha Raman Singh,
Vill & Post - Siur,
Distt - Nawada, Bihar.
Name of the Public Authority : CPIO, Punjab National Bank,
Zonal Office,
Ramchanderpur,
Biharsharif, Bihar.
The Appellant was present in person.
On behalf of the Respondent, Shri A. Kumar was present.
2. In this case, the Appellant had, in his application dated 7 November
2008, requested the CPIO for a number of information in respect of the
MSTP loans sanctioned by the Branch. In his reply dated 3 December 2008,
the CPIO forwarded the desired information/clarification against the various
queries while denying some of the information as exempt under Section 8(1)
(d) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Not satisfied with this information,
he preferred an appeal on 10 January 2009 which the Appellate Authority
disposed off in his order dated 21 January 2009 by endorsing the stand of
the CPIO. It is against this order that the Appellant has come to the CIC in
second appeal.
3. We heard this case through videoconferencing. The Appellant was
present in the Nawada studio of the NIC whereas the Respondents were
present in the Nalanda studio. We heard their submissions. We do not find
the response of the CPIO to be entirely in order. He should have himself
indicated the exact photocopying charges to be deposited by the Appellant
for obtaining copies of certain information rather than directing him to the
Branch. In any case, the Appellant submitted that he had approached the
CIC/SM/A/2009/000699
relevant Branch without much success.
4. We carefully examined the request for information and noted that
the Appellant had sought certain details including documents about the
loans sanctioned to some individuals and waived in favour of some others.
Since the information sought is in respect of loans under certain
development schemes involving concessions of one kind or the other, the
desired information should be disclosed for the sake of greater
transparency. Ordinarily, the above provisions are attracted only in case of
normal accounts of individual customers and not in concessional loan cases.
5. In view of the above, we direct the CPIO to provide to the Appellant
within 10 working days from the receipt of this order all the information
sought by him including photocopies of the relevant documents.
6. The appeal is, thus, disposed off.
7. Copies of this order be given free of cost to the parties.
(Satyananda Mishra)
Information Commissioner
Authenticated true copy. Additional copies of orders shall be supplied
against application and payment of the charges prescribed under the Act to the
CPIO of this Commission.
(Vijay Bhalla)
Assistant Registrar
CIC/SM/A/2009/000699